Select Local Merchants

Founded to commemorate local US veterans, Lowell Memorial Auditorium's imposing, neoclassical exterior is ringed with inscriptions immortalizing famous generals and pivotal battles throughout the years, including Bunker Hill, Gettysburg, and San Juan Hill. The venue's history hasn't been all serious, however—in its early years, shortly after Word War I, its most popular event was the weekly Bingo game, which often attracted up to 3,000 participants and prompted Life to call Lowell a "natural Bingopolis." The decades following saw everything from conventions and civic affairs to performances by Benny Goodman and the Golden Gloves boxing tournament. By 1979 the building was so worn down from floods, hurricanes, and economic depression that it necessitated a major renovation to bring it into the modern era. Today, its stage is fit for Broadway-scale shows, the behind-the-stage balcony is gone, and air conditioning protects against summer heat and litigious snowmen.

The intimate venue known today as City Theatre opened its doors in 1993 as the Second City Detroit. Renamed in 2004, the space still hews to the comedy troupe’s mission with a packed schedule of thigh-slapping theatrical performances. The stage is located inside the Hockeytown Café, where the entertainment is supplemented by a menu of beer, buffalo wings, and deep-fried pucks.

Klezmer Conservatory Band coordinates some of the best theater in Somerville. From the moment the curtain draws, you'll be having a great time.
Parking is plentiful, so guests can feel free to bring their vehicles.

The Citi Performing Arts Center's calendar of musicals, operas, rock concerts, dance productions, standup comedians, and classic-film screenings is a culmination of its decades as a Boston historical landmark. Starting out in 1925 as a "movie cathedral," the theater—then a renovated arts center capable of housing the most ambitiously scaled Broadway productions—morphed into the headquarters of the Boston Ballet. Throughout all its names and incarnations, the venue has retained the grandeur and luster of some long-lost wing of Versailles. In the lobby, dark-veined columns carved from imported marble vault skyward toward an arched ceiling and an enormous crystal chandelier that hangs like a pendulum from its center. In the theater itself, frescoes and intricate filigree surround the golden cupola that looms over a sea of scarlet velvet seats—a sight as awe-inspiring to audiences as it is terrifying to first-graders performing their first clarinet recital there.

Groupon Guide

If thinking about a night at the symphony makes you sweat, take a deep breath and consider the following: you don’t need a monocle or a fur stole to fit in. Gone are the days when dressing like Mr. Monopoly was the norm, and that’s not the only aspect of symphony etiquette that’s changed in recent years.In general, concert culture is far more relaxed than it once was. According to Lisa McDaniel, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Director of Donor Engagement, there’s a good reason for this: “We want patrons to feel comfortable.” With that said, there’s a fine line between letting loose and becoming the most memorable part of your seating section’s evening. Here are a few tips to ensure a great night at the symphony—both for you and for those around you.There’s No Wrong Way to ClapIt’s a fairly typical scene: a silence settles over the crowd as the first movement winds down, only to be broken by a few awkward solo claps. How rude—or how perfect? “They’re probably clapping because they feel moved by the piece,” McDaniel explains. “If people feel the need to do it, they should … but they should be aware that some people sitting around them won’t.”Traditionally, clapping occurs at the end of the piece and not between movements. If you prefer not to be the odd one out, check your program. The evening’s performance listing should give you a clue as to the number of movements. If all else fails, wait until the conductor turns to face the audience—that’s your cue to clap away.Arrive on Time, or Risk Missing Part of the ShowAt the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and many other venues, the doors to the auditorium close once the music begins. “You will probably not be ushered right into your seat until there’s a break between movements or pieces,” McDaniel warns. “But our front-of-the-house staff know exactly when to do that, so they will guide you and make you feel comfortable when you can go in.” The CSO also broadcasts the performance on an 80-inch TV in the second-floor ballroom, should you need to wait until intermission to take your seat.Save Your Gown for the BallThese days, it’s easier than ever to go straight from work to the concert hall. “Concerts are for the public,” McDaniel says. “So if you’re wearing jeans, that’s fine. If you’re wearing a suit, that’s fine. There’s no specific dress code.” With that said, you might want to think twice about bringing your “Bassoons are the Best” foam finger.So You Have to Cough…“We certainly don’t want to get in the way of anybody’s health,” McDaniel says, “so we don’t want you to hold it in.” If you do need some one-on-one time with your dry throat, feel free to excuse yourself to get a drink of water or a cough drop. Both are available for free in the lobbies of many concert halls. You may have to wait to re-enter, but at least you can feel good about it when you do.Think Twice Before Bringing the KidsEven if your dear toddler has already composed his first tune, he may not be ready to sit still for the duration of a long performance. Though the CSO offers some concerts specifically for children, McDaniel doesn’t recommend “the more grownup classical concerts” for kids younger than 8. The good news? At the CSO, the ballroom TV is a great way for parents to watch the show with their children.Photos by Todd Rosenberg, courtesy of Chicago Symphony Orchestra.Brush up on your arts etiquette with help from the Groupon Guide:A Dancer Tells Us How to Prepare for a Night at the BalletEverything You Need to Know Before Your First Opera